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Top Five Summer Whites

Publish Date: Jul 7, 2010

Top Five Summer Whites
Drink one of these wines to help beat the heat.

When the temperature rises, so does the thirst for a light, crisp white wine that delivers flavor--but isn't thin and watery. Here are some of our favorite regions and specific picks for summer sipping.

Not only do these wines offer bright, fresh flavors, they do so without burning a hole in your wallet.

1) Austrian Gruner Veltliner Our pick: E&M Berger 2009 ($11)Finally, proof that great wine doesn't need a cork (the bottle's sealed with a beer cap), and that not all Gruner Veltliners are pricey. This is a one-liter bottle, so you get more wine for your money--and it's a light, bright, crisp wine with nice minerality.Buy this wine here.

2) New Zealand Sauvignon BlancOur pick: Eradus 2009, Marlborough ($17) Classic New Zealand citrus nose with an overall herbaciousness. The palate is bright and full of pink grapefruit, but with a richness and complexity that is surprising. Balanced acidity with a long finish. Buy this wine here.

3) South African Sparklers Our pick: Graham Beck Brut NV ($12)If you're tired of the same old Cava or Prosecco, give this one a try. It's a crisp, easy-drinking sparkler for the right price. If you don't finish the bottle, use the rest for mimosas in the morning.Buy this wine here.

4) Australian VerdelhoOur pick: Hope Estate 2009, Hunter Valley ($10) Verdelho is a Portuguese grape variety that's somewhat common in Aussie bottle shops. It doesn't have the zing of a Sauvignon Blanc, but has nice stone fruit and melon flavors. For $10, it's worth giving this or another Aussie Verdelho a try.Buy this wine here.

5) Portuguese Vinho Verde Our pick: Broadbent ($9)You might know the Broadbent name for famous wine writer Michael Broadbent, as well as his family's brand of Broadbent Port. The import company run by his son, Bartholomew, also brings to the U.S. this bright, fruity and slightly fizzy wine. Vinho Verdes get their tiny bubbles from being fermented and bottled quickly, so they have slightly lower alcohol, too. So delicious, yet so affordable.Buy this wine here.